KK: It’s a story about two head-strong people from completely different
worlds who are thrown together in a tragic situation and find that what they
thought they knew was in fact completely different. Through all of it they find love and a home
together.

MK: Do you have a favorite character in Family Ties?

KK: Grace’s older brother Sam. I love
him! He’s protective yet loving. He’s what a real cowboy is. Strong, confident maybe even a little too
confident but kind to children and animals.
He came from compiling the men in my life (alive and passed) into one
character.

MK: While writing, did you connect with a particular character?

KK: I did.
I really like Sunny/Grace. She
has some personality traits that I would love to have. She speaks her mind, which I don’t do, even
if it hurts feelings, she’s honest about it.
She grows the most during the story which I think is so important for
anybody to do. Keep working on yourself
as a person – keep getting better.
Become who you want and accept that you don’t know everything. And there is a scene where she goes for what
she wants instead of waiting for it to happen.

MK: Did you plan to be a writer?

KK: I didn’t ever “plan” to be an writer it was something I had always
done. I don’t express my feelings well
through verbal communication. I’m much
better with written, that way I can get it just right. And I’m a bit of a
control freak, you can control what everybody says and how they act if you
write it down.

MK: What is your favorite non-writing past-time?

KK: Has to be anything outdoors or physically active. I love sports – lots of sports- anything from
softball and volleyball to waterskiing, also gardening and riding ATVs. I have to be active pretty much all the time,
even when I write I spin in the desk chair.

MK: Do you write full-time or is there something else occupying your days?

KK: I
wish, I’m still moving in that direction – heck I may never get there. But, fingers crossed, my works are well
received and will support my creation addiction. So I can write all those characters rambling
around in my head. Right now I am a
distribution agent for a regional newspaper as well as a part time online
broadcast co-host on a show called @Random which airs on Sunday afternoons at www.atrandomlive.com . I am a mother of two and a wife of a
farmer. So I stay busy.

MK: Do you need quiet to write or do you like a little noise?

KK: Crazy thing. I have to have
stillness in the room. No kids running
around, no dog or television, but I have to have music. Headphones on playing the ballads by mostly
country singers is what works best for me.

MK: What type of hero do you like best?

KK: I’m
alpha all the way. I love a big strong
man whose willing to take charge – heck he expects to be in charge. The kind that hits first and asks questions
later and always thinks he has to save a damsel in distress. They are far too much fun to tangle with.

MK: Is there any genre you wish you could write but haven’t yet?

KK: Yes. Mysteries. I love to read them, I love the web and not
knowing what’s going to happen. But my
mind doesn’t quite work like that. I have too many mysteries in
my own life to be creating more on pages.

MK: I agree - I would enjoy writing mysteries! Tell us, what time and place would you visit if you could?

KK: Most definitely the late 40’s to 50’s.
I love that time period. I
totally would’ve been a war bride and then had a dozen pen pal soldiers. I think that is such an inspiring time
period. President Roosevelt was terrific
and it was the last time our country was united in anything. Women were starting to move into a more
progressive role but still had the traditional values. It’s my ideal.

MK: How long did it take to get Family Ties published?

KK: From start to finish it was 9 months, just like
my babies. That’s why I love being
self-published. I get my edits back,
correct everything and upload it then it’s ready for sale. Granted it is a TON of work. I am doing everything myself, except the
editing of course, but I had to find an editor.
I design the cover art, write the blurb, market (which is the most time
consuming) It’s all worth it. It leaves
me in control of my book. I only answer
to the readers.

MK: What do you have in store next for your readers?

KK: I have a series of three novels that will or
can be stand alones as well. They will
have the same three main characters; women - one bed and breakfast owner with
ties to the James gang, a coffee shop owner with a ghost complex and a
landscaper who feels like an outsider.
All of them will be set in Nebraska like my first two. I just love Nebraska, it’s beautiful here.

MK: Will you give us a little preview of Family Ties?

When Dirk’s phone had rung two nights ago he thought
that’s what Danny was calling about.
Another trip. A vacation to
Nebraska. Nebraska. Not exactly the ultimate dream
destination. Corn fields and feed
lots. Seemed like a place of misery to
Dirk.

He
had ignored the first call. He would
listen to Danny’s lighthearted message and subtle plea later. He was making progress with a smoking hot
redhead at the club and didn’t need any distractions. Of course in L.A. you never could tell what
was fake and what was real, so smoking hot was all relative, but that was part
of the fun.

Dirk
loved his life. He was successful; at
least it appeared that way. His bank
account wasn’t too awful to look at. He
worked and played with the rich and famous.
They liked having him around and it was nice to be needed by them. He had been gifted with the amazing talent to
twist anything into an advantage. He was
the ultimate bull-shit slinger and the people loved him for it.

His
girlfriend, not that he couldn’t look around a little, was of course an
aspiring actress. Dirk was pretty sure
she was with him for his connections, but he didn’t mind overly much. She looked great in a cocktail dress and
stilettos and she had a fantastic sexual menu.

But
when the second call from his brother’s house came an hour later he got a
clench in his gut he couldn’t ignore. He
took the call.

“You
know you’re really screwing with my mojo, big brother.” He had laughed and plugged his ear waiting to
hear his brother’s comeback.

“Excuse
me?” A female voice Dirk didn’t
recognize asked.

“Jayne? Is that you?”
Maybe it was his sister-in-law.
He couldn’t tell with all the noise.
He pushed his finger harder against his ear and listened closer.

“No. Um.
This is Grace. Grace Tucker. You don’t know me…”

“Hang
on a second.” Dirk walked toward the
doors leading to the patio where people were swimming, but at least there
wasn’t a blaring speaker in his face.
“Okay. Sorry about that. Who did you say this was?”

“I’m
sorry to be the one to tell you this.”
She paused to sniffle and Dirk clenched his jaw waiting. “But, um, Danny and Jayne.” She whimpered and drew a deep breath. “They passed away.” Another swallow. “They aren’t with us anymore.”